The site that is currently home to Hopefield Animal Sanctuary has been earmarked as a potential location for a huge housing development.

The animal sanctuary, situated at the end of Sawyers Hall Lane in Brentwood, has long faced a battle over the land, which is owned by Tesco.

The sanctuary cares for hundreds of sick, mistreated or unwanted animals and back in 2015 it handed a petition with more than 200,000 signatures into Brentwood Borough Council in the hopes of preventing bids to build on the site.

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However, councillors have been handed proposals that could lead to a housing development of approximately 450 homes being constructed on the grounds and see the sanctuary relocated.

Under the plans, the sanctuary, which currently occupies 50 acres of land and was valued at £60 million in 2015, would be retained on the large plot of land next to the A12, but would be moved to a more easterly location.

The developers plan to give Hopefield eight acres of freehold land for the sanctuary to be based on, as well as the use of 50 acres of freehold land for grazing.

The proposals include the construction of 450 homes and the relocation of Hopefield (Image: GL Hearn)

It would also see the creation of a purpose-built centre and a new stable yard for the centre, with new guest facilities and bespoke habitats for the resident animals.

The developer indicates that the plans have been drawn up in collaboration with the animal sanctuary, which is supporting the proposals.

The proposals have not yet been formally presented to the council but should the development come to fruition, the access route would not come from Sawyers Hall Lane, which featured last week in this paper as one of the worst places to park in the country.

A pig lounges in the sunshine at the sanctuary (Image: Chris Cook)

Instead the access route would come via a road leading from Doddinghurst Road, close to the Brentwood Centre.

The road would in theory run parallel to the dual carriageway and then feed into the prospective 450 home development.

According to the developer these plans would bring about reduced congestion in Sawyers Hall Lane, as well as Doddinghurst Road.

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Hopefield is currently located at the end of Sawyers Hall Lane (Image: Google)

“The Liberal Democrats have always been opposed to using Hopefield Animal Sanctuary for building because we value Hopefield’s role for the community,” said Essex County Councillor for Brentwood North, Barry Aspinell.

“What I can say is the county council will be concerned about access from Doddinghurst Road.

“The access point would be right opposite one of the key sites [in the Local Development Plan].

“There could be 200 houses opposite that are going to have to access Doddinghurst Road.”

The inside of the Hopefield tea room (Image: Chris Cook)

As part of the Brentwood Local Development Plan (LDP) a number of sites around the town have been earmarked as potential locations to build houses.

Under the current draft, which was released in January, the Hopefield site has not been earmarked as part of the LDP, but it is believed the prospective developer is seeking to include it as part of the allocation of housing in the plan.

However, land either side of the A12 on the opposite side of Doddinghurst Road has been included in the draft LDP as an area that could see up to 200 houses built on it.

Hopefield Animal Sanctuary is home to a number of animals (Image: Chris Cook)